National Archives Releases New Materials Related to the Nixon PresidencyPress Release · Wednesday, November 9, 2005

College Park, MD. . . .The National Archives and Records Administration will release approximately 50,000 pages of materials from the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff on Wednesday, November 16, 2005, beginning at 9 A.M. in Conference Room E at the National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD.

A complete folder/title list for all of the documents in the opening will be available on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at noon at www.nixon.archives.gov.

The opening consists of 41,000 pages from the National Security Council (NSC) Files and Henry A. Kissinger's Office Files. These newly declassified NSC documents are from two series: the Vietnam Subject Files, and the Vietnam Country Files. The National Archives is also releasing the Agency and Congressional series from the Henry A. Kissinger's Office Files.

The Vietnam Subject File covers the period 1969-1973. Cables, memoranda, memoranda of conversations (memcons), reports, speech drafts, maps, and photographs describe deployment of forces, military operations in North and South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIA), contingency plans, and NSC deliberations, among other topics. These files are arranged by subject matter, and thereunder chronologically.

Covering the period January 1969 through September 1973, the Vietnam Country Files are primarily diplomatic correspondence between Washington and the U.S. embassy in Saigon. This series consists of State Department telegrams, memcons, and memoranda pertaining to diplomatic, economic, military, and other aspects of U.S.-South Vietnam relations, as well as to activities of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam. These files are arranged chronologically.

The Henry A. Kissinger Office Files Agency and Congressional Files consist of security files, federal agency files, and Congressional files. The security files include information regarding the defense budget, Vietnam, and U.S. security and intelligence. The agency files contain material directly produced by federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Justice, the National Security Council, and the Department of State. The Congressional files include material regarding the McCloskey/Kennedy Hearings, Senator Mike Mansfield, and other materials written on Congressional letterhead. These files are arranged chronologically.

In addition to the NSC Files, the National Archives will release approximately 800 pages from the White House Central Files (WHCF), Staff Member and Office Files, Joseph Fred Buzhardt Jr.: Pardon File for James R. Hoffa. This pardon file consists mostly of newspaper clippings.

The National Archives also will open about 1600 pages of documents from the WHCF, Name Files. This system was used for routine materials filed alphabetically by the name of the correspondent. The
following Name Files will be opened on Wednesday: Bessell, Peter; Malchow, Karin; Massa, Kevin; Rehnquist, William; Rockefeller, Nelson; Schneider, Joseph E.; Vanocur, Sander; Weegar,
Hannah; and Whalen, Steve.

The National Archives is also releasing about 2,500 pages of documents that were previously withheld from public access, and that were re-reviewed for release and or declassified under the provisions of Executive Order 12958, as amended, or in accordance with 36 CFR 1275.56 (Public Access Regulations).

Since 1986, the National Archives has opened more than seven million pages of Nixon textual materials. To date, approximately 4,000 videos, 450,000 photographs, and over 2000 hours of Nixon White House tapes have also been released.

All researchers, including the media, must have a valid National Archives Research card prior to gaining access to the records. Researcher cards may be obtained from Room 1000. A photo ID is required. Clean research room rules apply.

Due to parking limitations during openings, researchers are encouraged to use the National Archives shuttle bus service between the Washington, DC and College Park, MD buildings. The shuttle buses depart from both buildings 8 A.M. - 5 P.M., on the hour.